Mayor Karen Bass announced the appointment on Wednesday, Jan. 25, of three Deputy Mayors and three Directors in her Administration. Following a historically short transition, the Bass Administration moved with unprecedented urgency to bring unhoused Angelenos inside and to improve the quality of life for all Angelenos. The appointments below demonstrate her continued commitment to ensuring her Administration increases environmental protection and sustainability, expands and improves our City’s infrastructure, and engages with the people of Los Angeles.
“These leaders are innovative and experienced changemakers who will drive Los Angeles forward by helping to improve the quality of life of all Angelenos,” Bass said. “I want to thank the previous Deputy Mayors who stayed on to help my Administration transition into office during this critical moment in our city’s history.”
Randall Winston, Deputy Mayor of Public Works – Randall Winston will be leading the Mayor’s infrastructure policy and aligning public works with community safety efforts. Winston is an attorney at O’Melveny & Myers whose career spans law, architecture, and government. Previously, Randall was appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown to serve as Executive Director of the California Strategic Growth Council, a state agency integrating efforts to achieve the state’s climate and sustainable community goals. Under his leadership, SGC invested more than $1.3 billion in transit-oriented affordable housing, land conservation, and capacity building in the most under-resourced communities throughout California. Randall also worked for Pritzker Prize-winning architect Norman Foster, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams on design, urban planning, and infrastructure projects throughout the world. He also spent two years working for urban development and architecture firms in Beijing, China.
Karren Lane, Deputy Mayor of Community Empowerment – Karren Lane is California program director for the Leading Power for Change portfolio of the California Wellness Foundation. Prior to that, she worked at the Weingart Foundation, where she held the role of program director where she co-designed and launched their $4.25 million, multi-year Youth Organizing Capacity Building Initiative. She also led the foundation’s grantmaking strategies in South Los Angeles and Southeast Los Angeles, while working to increase investments in youth organizing, leaders of color and economic inclusion in Orange, Ventura, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Lane was also the vice president of policy at the Community Coalition in South LA where she specialized in developing policies and strategies to improve education, child welfare and criminal justice reform. Lane will join the Mayor’s office as Deputy Mayor of Community Empowerment. She will oversee community engagement and participatory governance on a variety of topics, including community safety and homelessness solutions. Lane will also play a key role in shaping the Mayor’s initiatives focused on equity and opportunity.
Nancy Sutley, Deputy Mayor of Energy and Sustainability – Nancy Sutley will lead the Mayor’s environmental, energy and sustainability policy and programs. Sutley is currently the Senior Assistant General Manager of External and Regulatory Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, where she oversees all external relations activities for our nation’s largest municipally owned utility. Prior to that, Sutley led the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) for five years during the administration of President Barack Obama, a position for which she was unanimously confirmed for by the United States Senate. Sutley previously served as Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s Deputy Mayor for Energy and Environment and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
Annetta Wells, Director of Community Engagement – Annetta Wells will join the Mayor’s office as Director of Community Engagement where she will lead community engagement efforts related to homelessness solutions, and will work with organized labor and the faith community. Wells will engage with council offices, neighborhood councils, business organizations and neighborhood residents to assist in encampment-to-home strategies in successful and sustainable ways. Wells is currently the Statewide Deputy Political Director for SEIU 2015, the nation’s 2nd largest labor local representing over 400,000 long-term care workers.
Leigh Hoffman-Kipp, Director of Strategic Initiatives – Leigh Hoffman-Kipp has been hired as Director of Initiatives for the Housing and Homelessness Solutions team and will focus on securing interim housing for Inside Safe. With a background in planning, development and organizational strategy, Ms. Hoffman-Kipp served as senior staff to the Hon. Jackie Goldberg at the city and state levels, and recently held leadership roles at Hands4Hope LA and the Silverlake Conservatory of Music.
Stephanie Venegas, Director of Scheduling – Stephanie Venegas will serve as Director of Scheduling for Mayor Bass. For the past seven years she has worked for the City of Santa Monica, managing the Office of the City Council and spearheading the City’s legislative and intergovernmental affairs. Venegas has over 16 years of scheduling and advance experience, having also served as Executive Assistant to then Congressman and current Secretary of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra, Deputy Director of Operations for the Democratic Caucus, National Surrogate Director for the West on President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign and as Associate Director of Surrogates for his 2013 Presidential Inaugural Committee.
